Joint Statement between Government of Sudan and Sudanese Liberation Army (SLA)

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Country/entity: Sudan
Region: Africa (excl MENA)
Agreement name: Joint Statement between Government of Sudan and Sudanese Liberation Army (SLA)
Date: 5 Nov 2003
Agreement status: Multiparty signed/agreed
Interim arrangement: Yes
Agreement/conflict level: Intrastate/intrastate conflict
Sudan Conflicts (1955 - )
Agreements relate to several distinct dyads, and also the negotiated independence of South Sudan, and subsequent internal conflict in South Sudan. Sudan-South Sudan. The long-standing conflict between the north and the south of the country dates back to colonial times, where the British introduced a so-called ‘Southern Policy’, severely hampering population movements between these big regions. Immediately after gaining independence in 1956, southern movements started to fight for independence; this fight became professionalised in 1983 with the foundation of the soon internationally supported Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA). When the Islamic Front government introduced strict sharia laws in the south after it took over power in 1988 the war intensified. A decade later, the military situation reached a stalemate, enabling internationally facilitated peace negotiations to begin in 1997. After more fighting, a final negotiation push began in 2002, leading to the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Areement (CPA) in January 2005.

Sudan-South Sudan post referendum. South Sudan became independent in July 2011; since then, relations between the two countries are complicated and violent conflict led by the SPLM (North) in the Sudanese Nuba mountains region has since intensified.

Darfur. Other long-standing violent conflicts are in the east and the west of the country. In the east, the Beja Congress, established in 1957, is the spearhead of a currently ‘peaceful’ opposition movement. In the west, the violent conflict in Darfur intensified in the early 2000s and rapidly gained international attention, even resulting in genocide charges against leading figures of the Sudanese government. The situation on the ground is complex, with over a dozen organisations (most notably the Sudanese Liberation Movement and the Justice and Equality Movement) fighting the Sudanese government and allied groups like the Janjaweed – although all parties have switched sides on numerous occasions. Several mediation attempts have not been successful, due to the shaky commitment of the Sudanese central government and the distrust among the armed opposition.

South Sudan - internal
In December 2013, after president Salva Kiir accused opposition leader Riek Machar of attempting a coup, violent conflict broke out between government forces of the SPLM/A and anti-governmental groups. In addition, several other political militias as well as communal militias have joined the conflict. In 2015 the Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (ARCSS) was signed. Due to unsuccessful implementation the agreement was revitalized in 2018. In September 2019, Kiir and Machar agreed to establish a power-sharing government after struggles on forming a unity transitional government.
Stage: Ceasefire/related
Conflict nature: Government/territory
Peace process: Sudanese (North-South) peace process
Parties: On behalf of the Sudanese Government: Osman Mohamed Yousif Kubor, Wali of North Darfur State
On behalf of the SLA: Abd Allah Hassab Allah Doumi, Head of the Sudan Liberation Army delegation.
Third parties: On behalf of the Chadian mediator: Dr. Adam Diar Mougoudi, Minister of Animal Resources.
Description: Ceasefire agreement signed during the second round of talks in Abeche, Chad. Agreement calls for a ceasefire, humanitarian access, freedom of movement and a renewal of the Tripartite Commission.

Agreement document: SD_031105_Joint Statement between GoS and SLA.pdf (opens in new tab) | Download PDF
Agreement document (original language): SD_031105_Joint Statement between GoS and SLA_AR.pdf (opens in new tab)| Download PDF

Groups

Children/youth: No specific mention.
Disabled persons: No specific mention.
Elderly/age: No specific mention.
Migrant workers: No specific mention.
Racial/ethnic/national group: No specific mention.
Religious groups: No specific mention.
Indigenous people: No specific mention.
Other groups: No specific mention.
Refugees/displaced persons: No specific mention.
Social class: No specific mention.

Gender

Women, girls and gender: No specific mention.
Men and boys: No specific mention.
LGBTI: No specific mention.
Family: No specific mention.

State definition

Nature of state (general): No specific mention.
State configuration: No specific mention.
Self determination: No specific mention.
Referendum: No specific mention.
State symbols: No specific mention.
Independence/secession: No specific mention.
Accession/unification: No specific mention.
Border delimitation: No specific mention.
Cross-border provision: No specific mention.

Governance

Political institutions (new or reformed): No specific mention.
Elections: No specific mention.
Electoral commission: No specific mention.
Political parties reform: No specific mention.
Civil society: Page 1, ... 5. Permit national and international humanitarian organizations to enter the areas which had been affected by war, under the guidance of the Sudanese Humanitarian Affairs Commission and with the knowledge of the Tripartite Commission.
Traditional/religious leaders: No specific mention.
Public administration: No specific mention.
Constitution: No specific mention.

Power sharing

Political power sharing: No specific mention.
Territorial power sharing: No specific mention.
Economic power sharing: No specific mention.
Military power sharing: No specific mention.

Human rights and equality

Human rights/RoL general: No specific mention.
Bill of rights/similar: No specific mention.
Treaty incorporation: No specific mention.
Civil and political rights: Human rights and equality→Civil and political rights→Freedom of movement
Page 1, ... 4. The two parties confirm [their commitment] to guarantee freedom of movement for individuals and possessions.
Socio-economic rights: No specific mention.

Rights related issues

Citizenship: No specific mention.
Democracy: No specific mention.
Detention procedures: No specific mention.
Media and communication: Rights related issues→Media and communication→Media roles
Page 1, 1. Continuation of the ceasefire between the two parties and the cessation of all hostile activities susceptible of escalating the situation, including media statements.
Mobility/access: Page 1, ... 5. Permit national and international humanitarian organizations to enter the areas which had been affected by war, under the guidance of the Sudanese Humanitarian Affairs Commission and with the knowledge of the Tripartite Commission.
Protection measures: No specific mention.
Other: No specific mention.

Rights institutions

NHRI: Rights institutions→NHRI→Mentions of NHRI
Page 1, ... 5. Permit national and international humanitarian organizations to enter the areas which had been affected by war, under the guidance of the Sudanese Humanitarian Affairs Commission and with the knowledge of the Tripartite Commission.
Regional or international human rights institutions: No specific mention.

Justice sector reform

Criminal justice and emergency law: No specific mention.
State of emergency provisions: No specific mention.
Judiciary and courts: No specific mention.
Prisons and detention: No specific mention.
Traditional Laws: No specific mention.

Socio-economic reconstruction

Development or socio-economic reconstruction: No specific mention.
National economic plan: No specific mention.
Natural resources: No specific mention.
International funds: No specific mention.
Business: No specific mention.
Taxation: No specific mention.
Banks: No specific mention.

Land, property and environment

Land reform/rights: No specific mention.
Pastoralist/nomadism rights: No specific mention.
Cultural heritage: No specific mention.
Environment: No specific mention.
Water or riparian rights or access: No specific mention.

Security sector

Security Guarantees: No specific mention.
Ceasefire: Security sector→Ceasefire→Ceasefire provision
Page 1, 1. Continuation of the ceasefire between the two parties and the cessation of all hostile activities susceptible of escalating the situation, including media statements.

Page 1, ... 3. Renewal of confidence in the Tripartite Commission and its consolidation among the three parties and the supervision of the field implementation of the contents of this statement.
Police: No specific mention.
Armed forces: No specific mention.
DDR: No specific mention.
Intelligence services: No specific mention.
Parastatal/rebel and opposition group forces: Page 1, ... 2. Granting the SLA a grace period of 30 days, starting from the signing of this agreements to provide the Appendices stipulated in the 3rd of September 2003 Agreement.
Withdrawal of foreign forces: No specific mention.
Corruption: No specific mention.
Crime/organised crime: No specific mention.
Drugs: No specific mention.
Terrorism: No specific mention.

Transitional justice

Transitional justice general: No specific mention.
Amnesty/pardon: No specific mention.
Courts: No specific mention.
Mechanism: No specific mention.
Prisoner release: No specific mention.
Vetting: No specific mention.
Victims: No specific mention.
Missing persons: No specific mention.
Reparations: No specific mention.
Reconciliation: No specific mention.

Implementation

UN signatory: No specific mention.
Other international signatory: No specific mention.
Referendum for agreement: No specific mention.
International mission/force/similar: No specific mention.
Enforcement mechanism: Page 1, ... 7. In the event of disagreement or violation by one party of the clauses of this agreement the other party shall refer to the Chadian mediator.
Related cases: No specific mention.
Source: As published in the Khartoum daily Akhbar al- Youm of 6 November 2003
Source: ICG Report, Darfur Rising

TEXT OF THE JOINT STATEMENT, SUDANESE GOVERNMENT/SLA DELEGATIONS

Unofficial Translation

The second round of peace negotiations between the Government of Sudan and the delegation of the Sudan Liberation Army (SLA) convened at the Chadian town of Abéché from 26 October -- 4 November 2003, under the auspices of the Chadian government.

The negotiations were an extension to the Abéché agreement signed by the parties on the 3 September 2003 and in implementation of Article 7 of the said Agreement.

Based on the report of the Tripartite Commission covering the situation in the field;

and because of the noncompliance of the SLA [with the requirement of] providing the Appendices within the stipulated period;

considering also the good intentions and the sincere desire to attain peace [shared by] the two parties, the two parties agree to the following:

1. Continuation of the ceasefire between the two parties and the cessation of all hostile activities susceptible of escalating the situation, including media statements.

2. Granting the SLA a grace period of 30 days, starting from the signing of this agreements to provide the Appendices stipulated in the 3rd of September 2003 Agreement.

3. Renewal of confidence in the Tripartite Commission and its consolidation among the three parties and the supervision of the field implementation of the contents of this statement.

4. The two parties confirm [their commitment] to guarantee freedom of movement for individuals and possessions.

5. Permit national and international humanitarian organizations to enter the areas which had been affected by war, under the guidance of

the Sudanese Humanitarian Affairs Commission and with the knowledge of the Tripartite Commission.

6. The legal framework for the next negotiations on the Appendices is the 3rd of September

2003 Agreement signed on to by the two parties, but the 'Project of a Final Agreement on Appendices between the Government of Sudan and the Sudan Liberation Army' that was proposed by the mediator and which is attached to this statement for the parties to amend shall provide a basis for the next negotiations.

7. In the event of disagreement or violation by one party of the clauses of this agreement the other party shall refer to the Chadian mediator.

8. The two parties are committed to strictly abide by this statement.

9. This agreement has been issued in French and Arabic and both versions have the same legal power.

Issued in Abéché Town on 4 November 2003.

Signed by:

On behalf of the Sudanese Government:

Osman Mohamed Yousif Kubor, Wali of North Darfur State

On behalf of the Chadian mediator:

Dr. Adam Diar Mougoudi, Minister of Animal Resources.

On behalf of the SLA:

Abd Allah Hassab Allah Doumi, Head of the Sudan Liberation Army delegation.

As published in the Khartoum daily Akhbar al- Youm of 6 November 2003